The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-03
This was all the evidence on the Majors


swore positively to Cicely, the Majors
mare, and declared his firm belief-though
he declined actually to swear toit-that the
Major was the man who robbed him. He
could not see his features for the mask that
covered them, but the figure was as like the
Majors build as was possible.
The witnesses cross-examination by the
Majors counsel only made matters worse;
for being asked how he came to know the
Major and his mare so well, he replied that
in his capacity of traveller for Linsey Il
Son, of the Golden Fleece, Cheapside, he
was constantly at Plumberton, and in conse-
Guence was well acquainted by sight with
both bped and quadruped. Cross-eyed
Dick, the hostler Of the Whcatsheaf, was
finally called Gt was noticed that this wit
ness gave his evidence very willingly.) He
declared that when he awoke, soon after
daybreak, he visited the stable where
Cicely was, the mare showed decided signs
of having been out in the night since he had
fed and bedded her down. She was splashed
all over with mud and looked very much
distressed. Asked il he mentioned the
circumstance to the Major or any body else,
he replied he did not, because, in the first
instance, he was afraid of the Major and in
the second thought it was no business Of
his.
The trial of Major George Brabazon, late
Of His Majesty's -th Regiment of Foot, is
over, and the prisoner has been found guilty
and sentenced to death. A petition, signed
by nearly every one in the county-higl
and low-had been sent up to His Majesty
in London, but to no purpose. Too many
gentlemen Of late had taken to the road, and
an example was needed. There was no help
| for it, Every thing that could be done had
been done, and there was nothing more to
| do now but to wait for the end. The only
| cheerful person concerned, oddly enough,
| was the Major himself. "a man can die
but once" said he. "But / should have
liked to have had one more gallop on my
dear old Cicely before came to an end.
However, it can't be helped! am quite
innocent of it all, that's one consolation, and
think you may take my word for it that
George Brabazon will die game.'"
| The execution was fixed to take place on
the Monday following the trial, on gallows
erected on Hangman's Heath, close to the
scene of the outrage. The preceding Sun.
day was sad one, you may depend, to the
| inhabitants Of Plumperton. Sermons were
preached alluding to the sad event in all the
| churches. and people spoke with bated
breath of the tragedy that was to be enacted
on the morrow.
| The tide was to turn, though, in most
| unexpected manner. At nine o'clock at
| night, when the streets were still full OF
| lOiterers, horseman came Gathering
through the town, whose disordered attire
and the jaded appearance OF his steed de-
noted that he had come from distance.
Pulling up at the first group of loiterers he
came to, he eagerly inquired the nearest
way to the Jail.
'I've free pardon for Major Brabazon,
| who was left for execution on the morrow,
in my pocket" said he, land must give it
into the Governors hands at once.''
| Fifty willing guides were found at once
to show the messenger the way to the
prison. Meanwhile the good news spread
| like wildfire. The town went mad with de-
light. The women shed tears of JOY, the
men shouted and yelled until they were
hoarse. A mob that soon mustered some
thousands rushed off to the Jail, and cheered
until the Governor of the prison made his
appearance and addressed the crowd.
Ii was all true, he said. The Major was
an innocent man. A prisoner lying in New
gate under sentence of death had confessed
that he was the stranger who had dined
with the Major at the Wheatsheaf on the
night of the robbery; that with the aid OF
Cross-eyed Dick, the hostler, he had alb.
stracted the Majors mare for the occasion.
Vol w. i, on,ua, ~ r.o o" p:. on ao Siiis
thev vo,rod sur,,oar,, ,,o,Na1 on hS " n1i, .;a
den fo,,th ,ohLaa ~ ,,,e;, .o1ts ,a. M .r.
marc 70 her stable and ,ai1a,, hi. Sanart',ns us
ON h;s o,,n hnrsn hafor, ,ho Ma;a. l,'a, 'us
..Tbat,s the storv ho,,s ), saig tha Soi, ~
ernor ..Norv go a,yav and COMO h.ra to
morro,v morninS at e,eyon o.o,oni, onS re.ob S
vour friend Ma;or Georga a,yov ror,o j.,
ymr tbousands IL Won liz >; .ddad h.
iapph;ng
.gThree cheer. for tho Major av ,br.o
times tbreet And tbroo for tho c,o,,a,uo,, ;,
The mob cbeered them hotb ana tho 1naro
and the Widow Thomson nntil thev ,uare
hoarse-alsothirstv They thew went awsv
Bells pealing, people shouting. ever.
body in his best clothes. and all assembled
in front of Plumperton iail to greet the
Major on his return from captivity' little
SPACE is kent clear close to the nrison pates
in which space a carriage and four ia drawn
up, containing the Widow Thomson and her
friend. Mrs. Matchum. both in their smart.
est attire and both in tears. BEHIND the
carriage, held by the Majors groom. stands
Cicely, the innocent cause of all the mis-.
chief, submitting patiently to the attentions
of the mob.
But, hark! the different clocks in the
town chime eleven.
A terrific roaring goes forth from tbo
multitude as the huge nrison oates slowly
omen at the last stroke Of the hour
A still more terrific roaring goes forth ma
the Major. apparently as fresh and well 40